There was a presence of swirling clouds in the area, as light broke through from the skies, every eye caught witness of devastation; they saw how the wind was tearing away iron roofs and waves swallow every single infrastructure around their beloved city. This must have been the strongest of storms ever recorded by history.
When people went down from roofs and posts the next day, they saw was a show of mother nature turning man-made structures into scrap, even finding their main evacuation centres as mere death trap.
In Bogo, northern Cebu, thousands of residents had taken refuge in the blue-roofed sports complex, where they set themselves up a few days before the storm’s planned arrival with catering and card games.
“But the wind started howling and the rain started coming, and soon the babies and the children were screaming that the roof was going to blow off,” said the mayor, Celestino Martinez. “I was trying to tell people to be calm. I had to shout over the noise, saying: ‘No don’t worry, the roof won’t blow off, the panels are too big.’ But they did blow off, piece by piece. (Source: The Guardian)
Those unfortunate ones were swept away by the tidal wave, displaced far away from their original place, lying as if they were oversized dolls. Some even had arms that positioned as shields for protection. It was an ugly scene.
To make things worse, communications and electricity was down; posts bowed down, powerless to withstand. Airports especially in Tacloban was swept flat and clear while harbours were filled with rubble. Many people unaffected by the storm had no reliable source of how bad the damage was yet everyone was still hoping for the best. If the need arise, many are here to help including the Armed Forces of the Philippines Reserve Force just waiting for that snap of order for deployment.
It was initially estimated that about 10,000 lives were lost. Families were looking for their love ones. Thousands hurt and wounded. Many grieved while aide came with a critic. When I was tucked in Manila; me and my fellow reserves participated in relief packing and loading and transferring goods. Volunteers worked round the clock. The 'Bayanihan' spirit was born again yet we were never deployed given that the government already spent money to train us for emergency response. While waiting we packed, carried relief goods in our backs, and gave out instructions as to how other people could help.
A week passed after Yolanda tore Visayas into devastation and tears. A group of five Philippine Air Force reserves with Nurse and EMT certification decided to fly out to Tacloban for three days leaving our snappiest BDA's behind. Staying home was never our call after hearing out that nurses and doctors were already aplenty in those stricken areas. We never agreed. We still hear people calling for help.
On November 16, 2013 the group started a humanitarian mission entitled 'Helping Hands for Tacloban'. Initially planning to leave Manila via PAF C-130 Hercules, it never materialised. Thankful with Air Asia Zest who gave out free seats a day after. The twenty of us arrived safely but in teary-awe at Tacloban Airport last November 17, 2013.
 |
| The HHCL (Helping Hand Central Luzon) group headed by President Ivy Tejada. A Philippine Air Force reserve assigned at 2nd ARCEN, Clark Air Base, Pampanga. |
